Refurbished multi-courts and stadium upgrades at Mile End
More than £230,000 has been invested in recent upgrades at Mile End Park Leisure Centre, including the transformation of the former tennis courts into a new multi-sports court and the creation of a revamped hospitality area at Mile End Park Stadium, bringing total investment across Be Well centres to £6.3 million.
£130,000 has been used to convert the tennis courts into a versatile, new pitch with a 2G surface, new nets, hockey goals and fencing. The upgraded space can be used for tennis, hockey and netball, offering Be Well members and local sports teams improved playing experiences than the previous concrete courts. The multi-use design also increases capacity, supporting a wider range of sporting activity.
Further improvements at Mile End Stadium have been delivered through an investment of over £100,000, supported by part grant funding from the Football Foundation’s Premier League Stadium Support Fund and the council as a majority match funding partner. Enhancements include a new player walkway, perimeter fencing cover, a turnstile and a brand-new hospitality area, created from previously unused changing rooms. This new space will improve matchday experiences for clubs and spectators, while also providing a flexible venue for activities such as school holiday programmes, community sports training and coach education space and the Mayor’s Cup.
Following Sporting Bengal’s promotion in 2024 to Step 4 of the football pyramid – a club that plays its home games at Mile End Stadium – these upgrades ensure the stadium now meets the Football Foundation’s stadium grading requirements. This enables Sporting Bengal, and other local clubs, to continue competing at higher levels without facing penalties for non-compliance grading requirements.
The council continues to prioritise investment in leisure facilities across the borough as part of its commitment to improving service delivery, expanding access to sport and supporting healthier communities.
The council has recently invested in improvements to the football pitches at Mile End, and two new bespoke Aspen saunas at Whitechapel Sports Centre, enhancing leisure facilities for Be Well members.
Work is currently underway to create a women’s-only gym with changing facilities at Poplar Baths, due for completion later this year. Further improvements, including equipment upgrades across leisure centres, are also being planned.
Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“These investments demonstrate our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible leisure facilities for everyone in Tower Hamlets.
“By improving our centres, expanding the range of activities available and upgrading key sports infrastructure, we are supporting residents to lead healthier, more active lives and helping local clubs thrive.”
To book the multi-courts for tennis, please visit the Be Well website.
For hockey and netball bookings, enquiries can be made directly with Mile End at bewell-mileend@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Ramadan extended hours 2026
Late-night access Monday to Thursday at Whitechapel and Mile End
Throughout Ramadan, Be Well is committed to supporting your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing with more flexible opening hours.
From 17 February to 19 March, both Whitechapel Sports Centre and Mile End Park Leisure Centre will stay open until 12am (midnight) every Monday to Thursday, giving you extra time to move, restore and prioritise your wellness around fasting and prayer times.
This year continues a long-standing tradition of supporting our community during Ramadan. Mile End has offered extended Ramadan hours since 2010 and we’re proud to keep that commitment going while expanding access to Whitechapel as well.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful late-night workout, mindful movement after iftar, or time to unwind in our sports spaces, our extended hours are here to help you stay well during the month.
Centres with extended hours:
- Whitechapel Sports Centre
- Mile End Park Leisure Centre
Extended Ramadan hours:
📅 From 17 Feb-19 March
🕛 Monday to Thursday: open until 12am (midnight)
🕛 Friday to Sunday: normal operating hours apply
Late-night access includes
- Gym facilities
- Sports hall sessions
- Multi-functional spaces
- Changing rooms and lockers
- Supportive Be Well staff on site throughout the evening
Wishing all those observing a peaceful, healthy and balanced Ramadan.
New saunas launch at Whitechapel Sports Centre
Tower Hamlets Council has invested a further £80,000 to install two new bespoke Aspen saunas at Whitechapel Sports Centre, continuing its commitment to improving leisure facilities and supporting healthier communities across the borough.
Following the successful refurbishment and upgrade of the historic spa at York Hall, the council has delivered brand-new saunas in both the male and female changing rooms at Whitechapel Sports Centre, enhancing the leisure experience for Be Well members to support health and wellbeing.
Before the leisure service was brought back in-house, the saunas at Whitechapel were closed due to refurbishment needs and longstanding access issues. As part of the new investment, the council has installed controlled access doors to ensure the saunas are safely managed, fully licensed and available to Be Well members.
The saunas are the first project delivered as part of an additional £1.5 million funding allocated in 2024 to tackle health inequalities and expand leisure provision.
This comes alongside Be Well’s New Year offers, designed to make health and wellbeing facilities more accessible and affordable. Current offers include:
- Four months for the price of three on all memberships
- A complimentary treatment with Anytime Plus Spa memberships
- Reduced junior membership prices to encourage active lifestyles
This latest investment builds on more than £4.8 million already invested across centres, including the York Hall spa refurbishment, improvements to Mile End Park Leisure Centre football pitches and essential system upgrades across all six centres.
Further improvements planned for 2026 include:
- New and reconfigured women-only gyms at Poplar Baths and Mile End
- Enhanced health suites at Whitechapel and Mile End
- Upgraded changing village at Mile End
- Inflatable activities across swimming centres
Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“At a time when leisure services across the country are under pressure, Tower Hamlets Council is choosing to invest in our community.
“This £80,000 investment at Whitechapel Sports Centre is about more than new saunas – it’s about removing barriers to health and wellbeing and ensuring residents have access to high-quality, affordable facilities close to home.
“By combining these upgrades with our New Year offers, we’re making it easier for people to take that first step – whether that means improving physical health, supporting mental wellbeing, or simply finding time for themselves.
“Bringing leisure services back in-house has allowed us to focus on what matters most: investing in facilities, listening to residents and building a Be Well service that is inclusive, accessible and designed around the needs of our community.”
Sauna usage is included in Be Well memberships and bookings can be made through the Be Well website and app.
Try before you buy
📅 Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December
📍 Across Be Well centres
Get a real feel for Be Well during our ‘try before you buy’ weekend on 20-21 December.
For two days only, you can enjoy complimentary access to your local Be Well centre gyms and if you’re a member, you’re welcome to bring your friends for free.
Whether you’re curious about our space, want to ease into a wellbeing routine, or simply need a calm moment before the festive rush, this is the perfect time to explore what Be Well is all about.
With our exciting January offers just around the corner, it’s an opportunity to experience our centres now and decide what feels right for you in the new year.
No membership required and no pressure. Just come in and enjoy the space.
What’s included?
- Free access to the gyms across centres for the weekend
- The option for members to bring friends at no cost
- Friendly guidance from our team
Reserve your place and join us for a weekend dedicated to feeling good.
Free classes at Whitechapel
Plus free fitness classes at Whitechapel Sports Centre on Sunday 21 December:
- Dance Fitness Zumba – 11am to 12pm – book now.
- Yoga – 12pm to 1pm – book now.
Reserve your place and join us for a weekend dedicated to feeling good.
Terms and conditions
- The ‘try before you buy’ weekend offer is valid on 20 and 21 December only.
- Access is limited to the gym only. Classes or add-ons require separate booking or payment.
- All guests (including +1s) must check in at reception on arrival.
- Guests must follow all Be Well house rules, health and safety guidelines and age requirements.
- This offer has no cash value and cannot be exchanged or transferred to alternative dates.
Christmas opening hours 2025
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and our Be Well centres are getting ready for a season of relaxation and a little extra sparkle!
Below you’ll find our Christmas opening hours, so you can plan your swims, workouts and winter wellness moments with ease.
John Orwell Sports Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
8am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9am-5pm |
|
28 December |
9am-5pm |
|
29 December |
9am-5pm |
|
30 December |
9am-5pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Mile End Park Leisure Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9am-5pm |
|
28 December |
9am-5pm |
|
29 December |
9am-5pm |
|
30 December |
9am-5pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Tiller Leisure Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9am-5pm |
|
28 December |
9am-5pm |
|
29 December |
9am-5pm |
|
30 December |
9am-5pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Whitechapel Sports Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
8am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
8am-4pm |
|
28 December |
8am-4pm |
|
29 December |
8am-4pm |
|
30 December |
8am-4pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
8am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Poplar Baths Leisure Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9am-5pm |
|
28 December |
9am-5pm |
|
29 December |
9am-5pm |
|
30 December |
9am-5pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
York Hall Leisure Centre
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9am-5pm |
|
28 December |
9am-5pm |
|
29 December |
9am-5pm |
|
30 December |
9am-5pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9am-1pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Be Well The Spa
Please note that all thermal spa sessions will be mixed gender during the festive period (24 December – 31 December).
|
Date |
Time |
|
24 December (Christmas Eve) |
9:30am-12:30pm |
|
25 December (Christmas Day) |
Closed |
|
26 December (Boxing Day) |
Closed |
|
27 December |
9:30am-4pm |
|
28 December |
9:30am-4pm |
|
29 December |
9:30am-4pm |
|
30 December |
9:30am-4pm |
|
31 December (New Year’s Eve) |
9:30am-12:30pm |
|
1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) |
Closed |
Learn lifesaving skills this Restart a Heart Day at Poplar
This Restart a Heart Day 2025, we’re giving you the chance to learn simple, lifesaving skills that could make all the difference in an emergency.
Join our lifeguard team at Poplar for free drop-in sessions where you can learn hands-only CPR (compression-only resuscitation).
No booking required – just come along to a drop-in time that suits you.
When
📅 Thursday 16 October 2025
🕐 Drop-in sessions from:
- 9:30am-10:30am
- 12:30pm-1:30pm
- 4:30pm-5:30pm
Where
📍Poplar Baths Leisure Centre
Demonstrations will also be available in Bengali.
By learning CPR, you’ll gain the confidence to act quickly and potentially save a life.
Come along and take part! Your actions could help protect friends, family, or neighbours when it matters most.
Mayor’s Cup football tournament ends in spectacular style
This year’s Mayor’s Cup football tournament came to an exciting finale at Mile End Stadium on Sunday 21 September, following two action packed weekends of competitions which attracted a total of 966 players, with teams playing across 10 age categories.
On 13 and 14 September, teams went head-to-head at Victoria Park in the keenly contested women’s open age competition.
In the final, Royal Regents defeated Ladies East End Academy to lift the women’s open age trophy after a thrilling penalty shootout. The final score was 3-1 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw at full time.
The day also featured a successful Girl’s Festival of Football attended by more than 40 aged between 10 and 15 years. The tournament’s first female match official Millena Billong is amongst those who ensured the success of the games, including the youth and men’s finals.
The action-packed youth finals at Mile End Stadium mini pitches saw Victoria Park v Vallance at U16’s; Burdett v One Goal at U15’s and Frontline v Vallance at U14’s.
Emotions were running high in the men’s finals on Sunday 21 September as London Sportif FC and Barnardo’s FC battled it out on the pitch from kick off until the final whistle.
London Sportif sealed the day with a 2-1 victory.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets said:
“The Mayor’s Cup gives people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to come together in healthy competition, to support grassroots football.
Huge congratulations to all the teams and those who helped to make the Mayor’s Football Cup 2025 an outstanding success with a record number of participating teams and more categories than in previous years.”
Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“It was inspiring to see football clubs and players of all ages compete in this year’s annual tournament, which helps fund grassroots football and encourages residents to foster healthy, active lifestyles. We would like to thank all participants, managers, parents and sponsors for their support.
We also thank our partners the Inner London Football League, Sporting Foundation and coordinator Sana Miah from Osmani Trust, who helped organise the tournament.”
The full list of winners
- U8’s – Vallance
- U9’s – Victoria Park
- U10’s – Vallance
- U11’s – Mindset
- U12’s – Shadwell Central Tigers
- U13’s – Victoria Park
- U14’s – Frontline
- U15’s – One Goal
- U16’s – Vallance
- Open Age Women – Royal Regents
- Open Age Men – London Sportif
Boiler upgrade at John Orwell Sports Centre
We’re excited to share that an upgrade to the plant room boiler system at John Orwell Sports Centre will begin on 22 September 2025 and is expected to finish by December 2025.
This project is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to improving the infrastructure of Be Well centres, ensuring our facilities remain welcoming, modern and sustainable for everyone in the community.
Once completed, you’ll benefit from:
- More reliable heating and hot water throughout the building
- Greater energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact
- Smarter, better-controlled systems for comfort and performance
What to expect during the works
As the plant room is located in our main building, there will be some temporary disruption while equipment is moved and installed. At times, this may include:
- Increased noise levels during working hours.
- Restricted access in certain areas as equipment is transported.
The areas most likely to be affected include:
- Reception area
- Fitness room
- Studio
- Functional zone (occasional impact)
Car park spaces at John Orwell Sports Centre will also be restricted until the boiler upgrade works are completed in December 2025.
Working hours and safety
- Contractors will typically be on site from Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm.
- Weekend work is not expected, though it may occasionally be necessary.
- Some after-hours work may also be required.
Throughout the upgrade, customer and staff safety is our top priority. Our centre management team will work closely with contractors to minimise disruption and keep the centre running as smoothly as possible.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding while these essential works take place and we look forward to welcoming you to a warmer, more efficient, and more comfortable John Orwell Sports Centre before the end of the year.
If you have any questions, please email: bewell-johnorwell@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Be Well celebrates first year with community giveaway and continued investment
As part of its one-year anniversary, Be Well, Tower Hamlets leisure and wellbeing service, has marked a first year of delivery with a community giveaway, strong resident engagement and further commitment to investment in local facilities.
Launched in May 2024 following the conclusion of the council’s contract with GLL (Better), Be Well was created to provide inclusive, community-led leisure services focused on holistic health, participation in physical activity and barrier-free access – especially for women and girls, older adults, and residents with or at risk of long-term health conditions.
To celebrate the anniversary and thank residents for their support, Be Well ran a borough-wide giveaway linked to a community survey, receiving 2,842 responses.
Key findings from the survey found that 84% of respondents rated the Be Well brand (name, logo, look and feel) as good or excellent.
72% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the facilities at their local Be Well centre, including gyms, pools, and changing rooms.
The giveaway winner, Shazmin Begum, received the first-ever Be Well membership card, granting one year of free membership and five day passes to Be Well The Spa.
In its first year, Be Well recorded a total of 37,277 members across leisure centres, with a shift in gender inclusion – 82% of members are now women, up from just over 40% before the service was brought in-house.
In addition, 19,150 free swim memberships have been taken up by women and girls aged 16 and over and men aged 55, removing barriers to accessing physical activity.
Continued investment for 2025-26
Looking ahead, Be Well is continuing to invest in the borough’s leisure infrastructure, and continue to listen to direct feedback from residents. Planned improvements include:
- Mile End Outdoor Pitches – Full upgrades with new 3G rubber crumb surfaces, fencing, floodlights, and goals. Work began in June 2025, with reopening expected in August 2025.
- Women-only gyms – Reconfigured and enhanced at Poplar Baths and York Hall.
- Health suite upgrades – Ongoing improvements at Whitechapel and Mile End Leisure Centres.
- Changing village improvements – Major updates at Mile End Leisure Centre.
- New water inflatables – to be available across centres with swimming pools.
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“Be Well is a powerful example of what’s possible when leisure is brought back into local hands.
In just one year, the service has delivered a remarkable increase in participation, especially among women and older adults, while maintaining a focus on inclusion, quality, and community connection.
We’re proud of the impact Be Well is already having and we look forward to deepening that work in year two and beyond.”
Be Well will continue to evolve its offer in 2025 and beyond, listening to residents and ensuring services remain welcoming, affordable, and community-led.